David Yassky

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Questions about David's Policy Initiatives

What is the status of efforts to bring a middle school to Downtown Brooklyn?

Downtown Brooklyn has gone far too long without a middle school. The Department of Education must act. Click HERE to read about my efforts to bring a middle school to Downtown Brooklyn.

 

How can I support the “Bikes in Buildings” Bill?

Allowing bike access to commercial buildings will enable thousands of New Yorkers to ride their bikes to work, freeing up our subways and greening our environment. Click HERE to sign our petition to allow bikes in office buildings!

 

 

Making Government Work for You 

Who are my elected officials?

To see a complete list of your elected officials, visit the Department of City Planning's website and enter your address under "Geo Query." After selecting "Address Translator," click Submit.

 

How can I request a meeting with Councilmember Yassky?

To arrange a meeting, please call or email my scheduler, Brian Switzer, at (718) 875-5200 x.15 or bswitzer@council.nyc.gov.

 

How do I report a noise complaint or chronic noise issue in my neighborhood?

To report a one-time noise complaint, call 311 and ask for the police department’s non-emergency line. Your local precinct will send someone out to investigate the complaint.

To report a broader, ongoing noise concern related to construction or industrial operation, call 311 and specify your complaint. They will help you get in touch with the Department of Environmental Protection.

 

I am a senior or a person with a disability. How can I get help making an emergency plan?

The New York City Office of Emergency Management's newly revised Ready New York guide for Seniors and People with Disabilities offers a wealth of practical information on making an emergency plan, creating a support network and gathering important emergency supplies. This guide is available in nine languages, Braille and audio tape free of charge by calling 311 (TTY: 212-504-4115) or visiting the OEM website. 

 

When are Small Business Committee meetings held?

For a schedule of Small Business Committee meetings and other hearings, visit the City Council calendar.

 

How can I get trash cans on my block?

You can request a wire trash can on a corner by contacting 311 and talking to a Sanitation representative. However, you will have to address the issue of who is going to empty and replace the bags.  If this is a replacement for a former trash basket, you should tell the person at 311.  If it is not, you should approach a business on the block and ask them if they will consider joining the “adopt a basket” program, in which a business or organization is given bags by the Department of Sanitation and takes responsibility for changing them when the basket gets full.  The Sanitation Department strongly prefers that a business or some other organization always be available to take responsibility for the trash basket, and having one on hand will increase your chance of success.

If you would like a larger trash basket with a lid, you should approach your neighborhood organization or another organized group that is registered with the state as a charity and ask them to request it through your Council Member’s office. You may also be able to discuss the issue with your local Business Improvement District (BID).

How can I get a tree planted in front of my home?

The Parks Department plants street trees, free-of-charge, in front of homes and businesses in all five boroughs. In order to request a free street tree, submit an online form to the Parks Department. You can do this at www.milliontrees.com or by calling 311.

You can also plant a street tree on your own by obtaining a tree planting permit. Due to certain street tree height and species qualifications, individual street tree planting most often requires hiring a landscape contractor.  To request a free permit to plant a tree in front of your home, call 311. The New York Tree Trust will also work with you on selecting the species and site in exchange for a small donation. Call (212) 360-TREE.

Once the new street tree arrives, you can learn how to care for it by attending the free, monthly Caring for Street Trees workshop offered by the New York Tree Trust and Partnership for Parks (www itsmypark.org).  At this workshop you will receive a free set of tools and learn how to care for your new “neighbor.”

 

How do I get a bike rack in front of my business?

New York City's Cityracks Program provides free sidewalk bicycle parking racks throughout the five boroughs. Due to a high volume of requests for CityRacks, NYCDOT prioritizes installation in areas that will benefit most from clusters of bicycle parking. DOT also targets installations in areas where they have received multiple requests and/or a “bulk” request from a Community Board, Business Improvement District, civic association or other group of community members. All needed forms can be obtained on the DOT website.

To suggest new or additional bike racks, complete DOT’s request form online or mail or fax their printable request form to:

CITYRACKS
40 Worth Street - Room 1035
New York, NY 10013
Fax # (212) 442-7823

On either of these issues, you may also call my district office at (718) 875-5200. My staff will be happy to help you with a request. You may also e-mail me at david@councilmemberyassky.com

 

I’ve called 311 about a problem and it still isn’t fixed, what else can I do?

Whenever this happens, please call my district office at (718) 875-5200 or e-mail me at david@councilmemberyassky.com. 311 is generally effective, but sometimes it fails to work. For this reason, you should always ask for a complaint number and keep a record of the date you called. You can use this information to check back with 311 to follow up on the problem. If you have taken these steps to no avail, please contact my office. If you’ve also called another elected official, please let us know so we can work with them.

 

How do I file a concern about condition at my local park?

Please call Jeff Sangurad, Director of Brooklyn Parks at 718.389.5455.

 

How do I search for affordable housing?

All current affordable housing lotteries are listed on the websites or the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

If you are a senior citizen, visit the website of the Department for the Aging. 

 

How do I file a complaint about conditions in NYCHA housing?

Call the NYCHA hotline at (718) 707-7771. They will help you file a ticket to report problems with your stove, heat, hot water, cabinets, etc.

 

What do I do if I have a rat problem?

Rats seek out cozy, safe places to live, with access to good sources of food and water. They often find the below listed items “attractive”:

• Vacant buildings and/or easy access to basements
• Holes in the sidewalks or any access under a concrete slab – can be any variation with access underground
• Overflowing garbage cans and or garbage cans left wholly or partially uncovered
• Food put out for stray animals, bird feeders, bird baths
• Gardens, flower holders of any kind (pots, beds etc.)– rats will eat the roots and the roots will sharpen their teeth. 
• Sources of standing water, including dips in the street, sidewalks, garden fountains etc. 

To begin addressing a rat problem, work to address these items in and around your property. But don’t stop there…

The reality is that it takes a whole block working together to get rid of a rat infestation.  One home or business owner’s refusal to cooperate can prevent the whole block from getting rid of rats.  So while having “rat meetings” and working as a group is not how most people prefer to spend their time, it’s often necessary.  Even if you don’t have a block association, you should meet and work together with your neighbors to come up with a plan and carry it out.

A few quick tips:

1. The City does not provide exterminator services for private property. 
2. All exterminators are not equal.  Ask around to find out who has dealt with rats before and ask for an exterminator recommendation. Talk to several before you chose one. Some blocks have gotten better rates by hiring an exterminator together.
3. When there is a situation or circumstance created by the City or MTA, they are responsible for periodic abatement to get rid of rats.
4. The City also requires special abatement procedures by developers.
5. When a City department finds a situation that draws rats, it tickets the owner of the property and requires them to correct it.  In certain instances, if the owner fails to act, the City sends a contractor to address the situation at the owner’s expense. These bills can be extremely high.  If you get a ticket, you may appeal to the Environmental Control Board. (ECB)

 

How can my agency or organization request City Council Funding?

Only city agencies and institutions or non-profit agencies and organizations can request City Council funding.  Starting with the current fiscal year of 2009, the application process has become lengthier and much more involved. All non-profits now need to have applied or registered with the State of New York as charitable organizations. This is much easier to do if your organization is registered as a 501(c)3. However, you may still apply if another organization with 501(c)3 status agrees to be your conduit.

There are a number of forms to be filled out for both the City Council and the Administration, all of which are obtainable on the City Council website. These must be submitted in a timely fashion. 

My budget director, Marian Wood, will begin setting up appointments on February 15, 2009 if you wish to speak with her about your organizations request. Due to the fact that the process for next year will not be entirely clear until at least January, 2009, she will be better able to answer questions at that time.

A few basics of Council funding are listed below:

Expense versus Capital Funds: Expense funding is for items that last less than 5 years. Common examples include salaries, art supplies, food or hiring a consultant for a particular project. The Council allocates expense funding in minimum amounts of $3,500. Capital Funding is for items that last longer than 5 years and cost more than $35,000. Examples include new public school playgrounds, new roofs and repairs to city parks. Other regulations also apply, but this is the basic difference.

Where To Apply: There are several places you can apply.  If your organization or agency primarily serves people that live in one council district, you should apply to the Council Member for that district. In my district, the 33^rd, you should contact my budget director, Marian Wood, at my district office at (718) 875-5200 beginning in February.

If you serve a whole borough you should consider applying to that borough’s Council Delegation as well.  Each borough delegation is composed of all Council Members representing that borough.  In Brooklyn you should contact Council Members Eric Dilan or Letitia James near the middle of February to inquire about seeking funding. The Brooklyn Delegation holds 3 presentation days each year where groups may discuss their work and the services they provide. Each group is given 3 minutes to conduct this presentation, and most groups bring written materials to leave behind. Obviously this funding is much more competitive, and much of it goes to larger organizations, but small groups requesting small amounts are also funded frequently.

Another source for borough wide funding is the Borough President’s Office. To apply for this funding, call Borough Hall at (718) 802-3700 and ask to speak with someone in charge of the budget process. Information is also available on the Borough President’s website (www.brooklyn-usa.org).

Cultural organizations should contact the Department of Cultural Affairs to inquire about funding.  You can find out more about how this works at their website or by calling (212) 513-9300.

 

What happens after I apply/When will I know if I’m funded?

As strange as it may sound, Council Members and borough delegations will not know how much money they will have to allocate to organizations until shortly before the Council passes the budget. Sometimes, it can even take longer than that before anyone sees anything in writing. Once I receive notification in writing, I contact all organizations to which I have been able to allocate funding.  This is always a difficult time because so many worthwhile causes exist, and there is never enough funding for all of them.

Beginning last year, Speaker Quinn began posting all expense funding on the City Council website, and starting this year, capital funding will be posted as well. This is part of a broader push for budget transparency that I have pushed hard to implement.